Die-hard metalheads will undoubtedly state, in unison, that
ballads are poison. For sure, they sent me screaming from the radio
back in 1984, when I was just getting my first tastes of forbidden
fruits like Van Halen.

Yet numerous metal bands out there will tell you that you can do
a song without having all gears burning out and still maintain your
heaviness. This seems to be the premise for the collection
Metal Dreams, Vol. 2, which has been in my collection for
some time now, but I'm only now getting to.

Granted, the only time any of the 16 featured bands dip into
true "ballad" territory is when Mr. Big plays their hit "To Be With
You" -- and that should relieve the minds of many hard-core metal
fans. Yet this collection does turn down the intensity and presents
a somewhat interesting look at a much-maligned genre of music. The
only thing this collection doesn't do is inspire you to purchase
other CDs from these groups -- and, in that regard, the compilation
does fail.

Besides Mr. Big, those who only know a little about metal will
be comforted by the presence of Skid Row and their hit "18 And
Life." Many of the other groups might be new names, but there
really isn't a bad track among them.

Sure, everyone who listens to this disc will find their
favorites - and maybe even a track or two they can live without.
After spending some time listening to this one, I found myself
going back to Nightwish's "Sleeping Sun," Iced Earth's "I Died For
You" and Sinner's "Destiny". Bonfire also impressed me with
"Goodnight Amanda." Meanwhile, I personally would have left off
"Nightfall" from Blind Guardian -- not a bad track, mind you, but
just not my particular favorite style.

Yet I can't say that
Metal Dreams, Vol. 2 sends me into a frenzy of purchasing
more CDs -- though, with a few of these artists lingering in my
"should have reviewed by now" pile, I am a little more likely to
dust them off and give them some attention. So, while I won't be
buying anything from Love Like Blood or Macbeth, I may be soon
cranking out older discs from To Die For and Sinner. (The jury is
still out, though, on Iced Earth -- they may take a Jackson or two
from my wallet.)

Maybe the purpose of this collection was to promote numerous
lesser-known metal acts and gain attention to them -- in this
regard, mission accomplished. Maybe the purpose was to show
skeptics that metal doesn't have to be hundreds of beats a minute
to be heavy, and that a lighter touch on the tempo can still be as
enjoyable. Mission also accomplished.

I don't know if
Metal Dreams, Vol. 2 is presently in print, but it does
serve as a good primer to numerous bands, and is a reminder that,
yes, even in the metal world, there exists some version that
everyone can enjoy.